Biochemistry with Biomedicine (Placement Year) BSc Hons

What Will You Study

Our Biochemistry with Biomedicine degree is for students with a broad interest in the biochemical processes of life and how these are altered by disease and who wish to gain additional work experience as part of their degree. We have extensive links with local hospitals, both in research activities and in the teaching on our biomedical-based courses. This programme provides you with support to secure a paid placement enabling you to experience twelve months working in the type of organisation that you might aspire to join when you graduate. The placement offers you the opportunity to work as a full time employee of the organisation with the same training and opportunities as other employees whilst still receiving both academic and pastoral support from the University.

Your degree begins with a range of modules designed to provide you with a broad overview of both subject disciplines and includes Molecules of Life, Biomedicine and Society, Organic Chemistry, and Anatomy and Tissue Structure. In additional, you will take a Placement Preparation module.

In your second year, you’ll move on to a range of biochemical and biomedical subjects, with several modules designed to develop key laboratory skills required by scientists in these areas. These modules include Medical Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Genetics. You will also take part in a ‘work-based learning’ module designed to provide guidance and support as you apply for nationally advertised placements and help you gain the most from your placement year.

You will spend your third year on an industrial placement, which may be science or non-science.

You can tailor your degree in your final year to match your interests, selecting from a diverse range of subjects including Tropical Diseases, Protein Biochemistry and Biology of Ageing.

During your degree, you’ll conduct your own laboratory-based project where you’ll benefit from the research experience of our internationally renowned academic staff.

Although you will be supported by professional careers staff in preparing your industrial placement application, it is likely that not all students applying to this Programme will be successful in securing these nationally-advertised opportunities. Students who have not secured an industrial placement will automatically be transferred over to the same degree scheme, without placement year, in this case Biochemistry with Biomedicine BSc.

Modules

Many of Lancaster's degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to complement their main specialism. You will be able to study a range of modules, some examples of which are listed below.

Optional

Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and others which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into two sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). For most programmes Part 1 requires you to study 120 credits spread over at least three modules which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects. A higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research.

Entry Criteria

Grade Requirements

A Level AAB

Required Subjects A level Chemistry and one other science subject from Biology, Mathematics or Physics

GCSE Mathematics grade B or 6, English Language grade C or 4

IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component. For other English language qualifications we accept, please see our English language requirements webpages.

Other Qualifications

International Baccalaureate 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subjects including 6 in HL Chemistry and 6 in one further HL science subjects from Biology, Mathematics or Physics

BTEC Considered alongside A level Chemistry

We welcome applications from students with a range of alternative UK and international qualifications, including combinations of qualification. Further guidance on admission to the University, including other qualifications that we accept, frequently asked questions and information on applying, can be found on our general admissions webpages.

Careers

Studying Biochemistry at Lancaster gives you an ideal base from which to continue to postgraduate study for MSc or PhD qualifications. You can also look forward to a promising career in areas such as research, pharmaceuticals, the food industry and forensic science. The transferable skills and analytical training you’ll gain during your degree and placement year, will allow you to enter diverse fields including management, marketing and finance. The placement year is an excellent opportunity to gain work experience and to get “a foot in the door” with a desired company. Graduate employers are increasingly using work experience schemes as a way to identify suitable candidates for subsequent graduate employment.

Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, you also graduate with the relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability awareness, career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.

Studying

Teaching and Learning Methods

At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments which include the traditional lecture-tutorial , interactive workshops, laboratory and practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based delivery.

The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue.

In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.

Assessment Methods

We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.

As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.

Fees

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2018-19 entry fees have not yet been set.

As a guide, our fees in 2017-18 were:

UK/EU (2017-18)

Overseas (2017-18)

£9,250

£18,890

Channel Islands and the Isle of Man

Some science and medicine courses have higher fees for students from
the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. You can find more details here:
Island Students.

Funding

For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page

Students also need to consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation it may be necessary to take out subscriptions to professional bodies and to buy business attire for job interviews.